Categories

PROJECT

1. Best Use of Thought Leadership

Demonstration of the impact of an initiative or approach to thought leadership by a consulting firm. The impact could be in supporting excellent client service and projects, stimulating wider debate in management and public policy or in building brand and marketing strength. The impact should serve to broaden the understanding of what consultants achieve and to demonstrate the commitment of firms to R&D and knowledge creation. Judges will be assessing the quality and originality of the thought leadership, alongside evidence of results of its impact within and beyond the consulting firm.

2. Change and Transformation in the Private Sector

Demonstration of a structured and sustainable transition from a current state to a desired state involving major, sometimes fundamental and far-reaching, changes in how an organisation does things, rather than merely the improved performance of existing processes. This could include organisational change and restructuring, cultural change, Target Operating Model initiatives, fundamental re-engineering of approaches and post-M&A activity.

3. Change and Transformation in the Public Sector

Demonstration of a structured and sustainable transition from a current state to a desired state involving major, sometimes fundamental and far-reaching changes in how an organisation does things, rather than merely the improved performance of existing processes. This could include organisational change and restructuring, cultural change and assistance with major policy initiatives which improve outcomes for society and provide value for money. This is not about the delivery of just excellent consulting projects it is about leaving sustainable change within an organisation that is deeply embedded and long lasting with clear evidence of this impact.

4. Commercial Impact

Demonstration of work that helps clients to improve their value – for instance in their supply chain, through excellence and innovation in procurement and supplier management, outstanding use of financial analysis and risk management (including compliance and regulatory issues), or by implementing new commercial models and/or new business strategies. The consultants must show the sustainable difference that the work has made in terms of the return on the client investment in consultants.

5. Technology Transformation

Demonstration of a successful consulting project which has delivered a fundamental technology transformation for a client with clear sustainable benefits delivered for the organization and using innovative techniques. The winning entry will be able to demonstrate how for example how technology has brought cost benefits, improved internal processes and generated new opportunities for the client.

6. International

Demonstration of successful project work overcoming organisational cultural, regulatory and geographical barriers in any sector or service line carried out in an overseas market. This could be a project carried out by a team of consultants pulled together from around the world to work with the client, or a consulting team working on a project with the client in one or several countries.

7. Performance Improvement in the Private Sector

Demonstration of sustainable performance improvements in the private sector in the areas of existing business which could include improvements in cost reduction, process design, capacity sharing and quality assurance. Projects need to show the return on investment in the consulting work, the benefits of greater efficiency and fundamentally the improvements in the bottom line and positive impact on the business.

8. Performance Improvement in the Public Sector

Demonstration of sustainable performance improvements in the public sector in the areas of existing business which could include improvements in cost reduction, process design, policy making, service provision or support functions. Projects need to show the return on investment in the consulting work, the benefits of greater efficiency and fundamentally the positive impacts on citizens.

9. People and Leadership

Demonstration of the successful delivery of people-related initiatives. This could be, leadership, cultural change, organisational development, performance management initiatives, training and development, recruitment, retention and motivation, or talent management.

10. Social Value

Demonstration of work that has enabled clients and consultancies to achieve excellent and sustainable benefits for wider society. This could be through financial or non-financial impact which has generated a long-term positive outcome for either the organisation, community, environment or wider society. The winning entry will be able to demonstrate how they were able to positively improve economic, social, environmental or wellbeing.

11. Strategy

Demonstration of the development of a new strategy, or a major contribution to a critical aspect of a client’s strategic plans and approach. This could take place in the context of work on corporate strategy, corporate recovery and turnaround, business strategy, market analysis and strategy, mergers and acquisitions, policy formulation, shareholder value creation and management or corporate venturing.

12. Sustainability Award

Demonstration of work that has enabled clients and consultancies to deliver sustainability benefits for organisations and/or the wider society in the UK or overseas. The work under this Award Category must be explicitly linked to at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and, for example, could include work or project(s) that involve plastic reduction and/or recycling, carbon reduction of operations or supply chains, ensuring the provision of clean water and sanitation in developing countries, promoting clean energy, work that focuses on climate action and/or protecting life on land and sea and other projects that align with the UNSDGs.
Submissions should state specifically how the project aimed to have a positive impact, what that positive sustainability impact was on whom and/or what aspect of operations or what organisation, over what period or time and what the legacy of the project is expected to be over time.

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INDIVIDUAL

13. Young Consultant of the Year

This Award recognises excellent performance in any service line by an individual who has been a consultant (with one or more firms) for between 3+ and 5 years and is under 35 years of age. (by entry deadline)

14. Apprentice of the Year

To enter you must either be currently undertaking an apprenticeship qualification within consulting or have completed one in the last 12 months. This award recognises great potential identified in individuals and champions those who are making a positive impact in their workplace.

15. Rising Star

We welcome entries from individuals with 1 to max 3 years of consulting experience (by entry deadline) in their first job who have demonstrated they have great potential in their consulting career and are already beginning to demonstrate the positive impact they will make in the sector and in their workplace.

16. Team Leader Consultant of the Year

Individual consultants may enter who can demonstrate exceptional performance in building and leading project teams of consultants and working effectively with clients in that role.

17. Thought Leader Consultant of the Year

This Award is open to consultants in any service line who have made a significant personal contribution to thought leadership in their specialist field. This might be in the form of research papers, blogs, engagement in management and public policy debates or contributions to a wider understanding of the role and value of consulting itself.

18. Technology Consultant of the Year

This Award will recognise an individual consultant who has demonstrated exceptional performance and effectiveness in the advancement of the application of new technologies, methodologies and approaches in business. The individual has to demonstrate outstanding achievement and commitment.

19. Inclusion Award

This award goes to an individual who has excelled at championing and building inclusive workplaces and is a visible advocate and can demonstrate the impact of their work in their firm and also their clients.

20. Experienced Leader Award

Applications are welcome from individuals coming to consulting as a second career who have a minimum of 3 years consulting experience and can demonstrate an outstanding record of performance with clients delivering tangible impact and results in a wide variety of projects.

21. Outstanding Achievement Award

This award honours an exceptional candidate who had displayed leadership, excellence and outstanding client value. They should provide evidence of significant achievement in the last 24 months in their chosen field of consulting. Judges will be looking for consultants who have made a significant contribution to the success of the consulting industry and its development through the quality of their work and individual approach.

22. Chartered Management Consultant of the Year

Chartered (ChMC) exists to recognize the talents, skills and experience that quality management consultants embody.

The Chartered Management Consultant of the Year is awarded to a Chartered consultant who has shown they have all those qualities and knows how to employ them. Delivering consistent excellence to their clients. Exemplifying the values and professional ethics that are at the very core of the Chartership. Their approach is noted by both their clients and peers and through everything that they do they act as an ambassador for the very best of what our industry has to offer to clients and society. A role model. This award is open to MCA members only.

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OVERALL

23. Best New Consultancy (Non-members can enter)

This Award is open to all consulting firms which have been operating for less than 7 years and have not been part of any other consultancy firm in the past i.e., a new entrant. The consultancy must demonstrate their client focus, delivery excellence, commitment to their people and operational excellence via a presentation to the judging panel.

24. The Times Consultant of the Year

Judges will select a winner who has demonstrated the most exceptional performance from the individual category winners.

25. Project of the Year

Judges will select a winner from the project category winners which has demonstrated exceptional performance in any category.

TIMELINE

JUDGING PANEL

GUIDANCE

FAQS